THE RESIDENT
NEWSLETTER
March 2012 | Volume 3, Issue 3 | www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/
IN THIS ISSUE
» HUD Bars Discrimination
against LGBT People
» First Lady and Let’s Move!
Combat ‘Food Deserts’
» TIPS: March Means Spring
Cleaning
» Help Corner
HUD Bars Discrimination against LGBT People
On January 28th, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced
a change which lands a blow against housing discrimination
toward people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT): the creation of the Equal Access to Housing
Rule. Secretary Donovan stated, “Today, I am proud to announce
a new Equal Access to Housing Rule that says clearly and
unequivocally that LGBT individuals and couples have the right
to live where they choose. This is an idea whose time has come.”
The new HUD rule would now forbid discrimination based on
sexual orientation, identity or expression. This means Public
Housing residents cannot be discriminated against for:
• the gender of their romantic interests/partners;
• identifying as transgender or choosing not to identify as any gender; or
• not sticking to traditionally masculine or feminine dress or actions.
Further, the new rule states that “[T]he majority of HUD’s rental housing and homeownership
programs already interpret the term ‘family’ broadly. The proposed rule clarified that family
who are otherwise eligible for HUD programs may not be excluded because one or more
members of the family may be LGBT or perceived to be LGBT.” Additionally, PHAs may not
ask about an applicant’s sexual orientation as part of the housing application process.
Below are three examples of
behavior that is no longer
allowed, two examples come
from the office of Fair Housing.
• A gay man is evicted because his
landlord believes he will infect
other tenants with HIV/AIDS.
• A property manager refuses to rent
an apartment to a transgender
applicant because the applicant’s
appearance does not conform to
traditional gender roles.
• A case manager at a PHA asks an
applicant for her sexual orientation
as a part of the application
process.
HUD also supports the existing protections against this type of discrimination in state and
local laws. If a resident lives in an area with stronger discrimination protections in their state
or local laws, those laws take precedence over HUD’s rules. To learn more about the new rule
and states with LGBT protection visit HUD’s page on LGBT discrimination.
By expanding these protections, this Equal Access to Housing Rule can help reduce
homelessness among LGBT adults and youth. LGBT youth, those between 12-24 years of age,
are particularly vulnerable to homelessness, often as a result of discrimination. According to
the nonprofit group, the Center for American Progress, 20 to 40 percent of homeless youth are
LGBT. To learn more about young LGBT homelessness, visit http://bit.ly/c9YYFW.
This change was made official by the addition of the Equal Access to Housing Rule to the
Federal Register where the government publishes updates to its rules among other things.
HUD is promoting the Equal Access to Housing Rule by filming an educational video
featuring staff from the Fair Housing and Public Housing offices. The Department has also
launched its “Live Free” campaign which includes print advertisements you can see here.
With the new rule, the Department takes a bold step in ensuring that Public Housing is
available to all. As HUD Secretary Donovan said in his January speech, “With this historic
rule, the Administration is saying you cannot use taxpayer dollars to prevent Americans
from choosing where they want live on the basis [of] sexual orientation or gender identity ensuring that HUD’s housing programs are open, not to some, not to most, but to all.”
TIPS:
First Lady and Let’s Move!
Combat ‘Food Deserts’
Let’s Move! is First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to fight
childhood obesity. One part of this fight is eliminating ”food deserts.”
Neighborhoods that are over a mile from the nearest supermarket are
considered food desert; in these communities access to affordable,
quality, nutritious food is limited. Food deserts are found in both rural
and urban areas and are home to over 23 million Americans, including
6.5 million children. A map of food deserts is available here:
http://1.usa.gov/kJcR1U.
The initiative offers information and strategies for improved nutrition
and increased exercise in an effort to ensure that this is not the first
generation to be less healthy than its parents. The program helps stock
grocery stores, corner stores, and farmers’ markets with healthy and
nutritious foods. It also provides suggestions for what you can do in your
own community to improve access to healthy foods.
Last fall, in a Chicago speech, the First Lady highlighted the importance
of access to healthy food. “… we all grew up in communities with
grandmothers who cooked two, three vegetables that you had to eat.
There was no ifs, ands or buts about it. But that’s because many of our
grandparents, they had community gardens; there was the vegetable
man that came around. There were many other resources that allowed
them to have access. So it’s not that people don’t know or don’t want to
do the right thing; they just have to have access to the foods that they
know will make their families healthier.”
Often the grocery stores that sell healthy foods, including fresh, fruit
and vegetables, are out of reach. Also, healthy foods that are available
are too expensive for many people to afford on a regular basis. Lack of
access is known to contribute to food shortages and hunger. However, it
is also a critical part of why many people, adults as well as children, are
simply not eating enough fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to
remain healthy.
Some ideas for improving access to healthy food include hosting a local
farmers’ market at your public housing authority or place of worship. You
can also advocate for these vendors and others who sell healthy foods to
accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The
USDA provides information to help you get a market started. To learn
more visit: http://1.usa.gov/9smvwH.
To partner with a local food bank on offering healthy options in your
area visit Feeding America to find the food bank closest to you:
http://feedingamerica.org/.
March Means Spring Cleaning
Spring time is quickly approaching so it is the perfect time to
do some spring cleaning. Spring cleaning can lead to healthier
living conditions, better use of space and possibly make you a
few dollars.
1. Clean out those closets. Are there old toys, clothes, or
clutter that isn’t being used or is broken? Take an hour or two
and have each person in the family go through their things
to decide what should be tossed out and what is still in good
condition but isn’t in use. The latter can be sold in a garage
sale, consignment shop or donated. Remember, donations
may be tax deductible!
2. Dust. Take the time to vacuum around baseboards, heating
vents, drapes, under the sofa cushions, and wipe down window
sills and non-upholstered furniture. Also, don’t forget to
vacuum under those big furniture items too.
3. Don’t overlook the bathroom. Bathrooms are subject to
a lot of moisture day in and day out which can cause mold
growth. This is a good time to make note of any leaking or
damaged fixtures that would need repair. If you do notice
something, be sure to contact your landlord immediately so
the problem can be corrected.
4. Appliances need a spring cleaning, too. Clean out the
refrigerator, check dates on items in bottles in jars to make
sure they are still in date. If you can, pull out the refrigerator
and check behind to make sure nothing has fallen since the
last cleaning. Wipe down the inside and outside of appliances
with a soft cloth and a solution of ½ cup of bleach and 4 cups
of warm water.
5. Get organized. Take an hour with your family to make sure
things all have a place and that everyone in the family knows
where those places are. Set up a tray for mail and another
for keys. Are there hangers and hooks for coats? Places for
backpacks to go after school? Keeping things organized helps
everyone keep the house tidy and gives the family more time
for other fun activities.
These tips are only a starting point. Have the whole family
pitch in with ideas for a clean spring.
Contact us:
Public and Indian Housing
Information Resource Center (PIH IRC)
2614 Chapel Lake Drive
Gambrills, MD 21054
Toll free number: 1-800-955-2232
Fax number: 1-443-302-2084
E-mail: [email protected]
(Put “Resident Newsletter” in subject line)
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Department of Labor Helps Youths
Find Summer Jobs
HELP
CORNER
Earlier this year, President Obama launched Summer
Jobs+. This joint initiative calls on businesses, nonprofits, and government to work together to provide
pathways to employment for low-income youth for the
summer. Young Americans looking for job opportunities
will be able to go to the Summer Jobs+ Bank, a search
tool which will have postings from employers; the jobs
bank will launch within a few weeks. To learn more about
Summer Jobs+ go to: http://www.dol.gov/summerjobs/
Employers.htm.
Any training, conferences, products, study results, or services contained herein are provided for
informational purposes only and are not representative of an endorsement or sponsorship by HUD.
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